The Marriot Carpet is Dead. Long Live the Marriot Carpet

I’ve been going to the Dragon Con parade since those years when my then husband wasn’t interested in doing things with me. After a couple of times alone I took my oldest. He was along about middle or high school. It seems to me like the markets were open to the public at some point because I’ve never attended as a paid guest, but I have wandered around looking at all that was available.

I thought at one time, that I might participate in the market there. I considered it around the same time I was going to start making costumes for a pro-wrestler hopeful. I don’t know how long that side gig would have lasted, but after I ordered the fabric (which was really quite pricey) he never got around to the down payment that was supposed to cover that pricey-ness, so I never got around to cutting the fabric on his behalf, and there that ended.

I’ve actually done a market at that Marriot as part of the Smocking Arts Guild of America (SAGA) annual convention. It was the first year the Marriot opened and well before I moved to the Atlanta area. I was both and attendee and a vendor. It was a lovely memory with talented people everywhere you could turn and the occasional stray piece of embroidery floss floating around on the floor or stuck to women’s clothing. I had published work and designs of my own to sell. It was the first time I was asked for an autograph. I still don’t know if the people who asked were just being kind, but it was a thrill either way.

As much as I love the Marriot carpet of Cult fame, and the fact that the design has likely become a permanent part of Dragon Con, I don’t remember if that was the carpet on the floor that first year they were open. I do remember being sad and when I walked through on another occasion and the carpet was gone. But hey, in truth, that stuff had to be really nasty through to the concrete sub floor when they got rid of it, and nice hotels stay desirable by looking fresh and trendy to customers who have no idea that a world of people with rich inner lives descends upon Atlanta 80,000 strong on the first weekend in September.

I haven’t been to see the parade every year. In fact, I’d have made it to fewer in recent years if Russ wasn’t so keen on going. This year was more fun than it had been in a while. I managed a spot on the curb next to an enthusiastic spectator who knew some of the participants. She was screaming with enthusiasm and calling out some of the characters. She ululated at the Amazons and some of them ululated back. Many characters vogued for her. I take pretty much the same photos every year, but this year it would have been quite worthwhile to take the Nikon. Instead, my phone overheated in the sun. My pictures were few and not much more special than usual. That’s ok. You get to enjoy an experience more when you aren’t trying to photograph it.

Afterward, we went to our favorite pizza place for a slice (a couple of slices to be honest) and then to Northside Goodwill. It’s the Goodwill closest to Georgia Tech, located in what was once the Sam Flax store, my all time favorite 25,000 square foot art supply store. Loosing the art store made me want to avoid that Goodwill for a while, so it was longer before I noticed the new Flax store across the street, which I eventually learned been bought by employees. The new-old building has character and is bigger than it looks, but is only, yeah, only 9311 square feet. The new place has rooms too, so not only is it less than half the size, you’re not gob smacked with the sheer enormity of a vast open art supply store with 25,000 square feet of possibilities. I get it, how does one have any disappointment whatsoever about 9311 square feet of arts supplies? Well, you know, someone who went to the other location back in the day.

Anyway, I was ever so glad I went, because look at my Dragon Con day find! I had just asked someone if they read Tomorrow and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, so it was fresh on my mind. This is a #13 Great Wave jersey inspired by the book. There is no better day to find a fictional gamer shirt.

So, you know me. I had to search an image of the shirt to see if I could afford to keep it. Anything that could be sold for significantly more than I would have been willing to pay myself is stock, not personal property because the house is full, the budget is strained and the need to help family in the home is ongoing. The only exact match I found was for sale in another country for the equivalent of $70-80. I’d be more certain that it was going on the block if I could find a sold in the US. Either way, it’s a plus. I just have to decide which file to put the receipt in and list it if it’s going.

Things come and they go and they come back again, sometimes, in another form. Whether it’s a spoof cult dressed in a hotel carpet design, beloved art supply store or a T-shirt that you admire for a time before setting it on it’s way to the next admirer. The beauty and the joy they bring is never truly gone.

The Marriot carpet is dead. Long live the Marriot Carpet!

Until next time, have a glorious day, and we’ll see you on the trail.